For two months last year, Baltimore police say, Keith Ray committed an armed robbery almost every other night.
Ray, 37, always wore a mask ? and never used the credit cards he snatched at gunpoint.
But after committing an estimated 25 robberies, Ray slipped up: He placed a call using a stolen cell phone.
“He called his girlfriend out in Parkville,” said former Baltimore Police Det. James Schuler, who arrested Ray. “He made a mistake.”
From the call, Schuler and partner Det. Sgt. Randy Dull tracked down Ray, whom prosecutors described as a “one-man crime spree.”
This week, the officers and many of Ray?s victims celebrated as he pleaded guilty to 13 counts, including armed carjacking and armed robbery.
Baltimore City Circuit Judge Wanda Heard sentenced him to 50 years in prison.
“It?s an extremely significant case, because of the sheer volume of crimes he was committing,” Assistant State?s Attorney Jennifer Sites said. “The Central District saw a significant decline in their statistics once they got him off the streets. He was just not going to stop.”
Ray?s victims say they will always remember their encounters with the masked man.
“This is what the criminal justice system is supposed to be about,” said Bolton Hill resident Sharon Miller, whom Ray robbed of jewelry at gunpoint.
The detectives found Miller?s expensive watch on the wrist of Ray?s girlfriend.
Dyana Neal, whom Ray forced to drive to an ATM and withdraw money, said she?s “thrilled” by the outcome.
“It?s been pretty traumatic, but it?s getting better with time,” she said of her encounter with Ray. “I used to cry almost every day about it.”
Carjacking victim Richard Bourne said he?s moving from lower Guilford because of Ray?s attack.
“I?m disabled,” Bourne said. “He strip-searched me and asked how much my life was worth. He?s a menace. He?s a very dangerous man. I?m delighted he?s going away for a long time.”
